Hebrews 7:11-19

Last Week, We Officially Started On the Topic of Melchizedek

The Author Showed Us Some Very Interesting Things About Him

Things that Make Him a Foreshadow of Jesus

King of Righteousness

King of Peace

Not of the Levitical Priestly Line

Is Eternal - Without Beginning or End

Priesthood is Perpetual/Never Ends

Greater Than Abraham

Priesthood is Greater than the Levitical Priesthood

A Theme Throughout the Book So Far is:

Jesus is Better/Superior

That Theme Continues in this Chapter

Jesus is Superior to Abraham (The One Who Held the Promises of God)

Jesus is Superior to Levi (The One Who Held the Priesthood of God)

Hebrews 7:1–10 (NLT)

This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. In addition, we might even say that these Levites—the ones who collect the tithe—paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.

Hebrews 7:11–19 (NLT)

So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?

And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests. What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:11 (NASB95)

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

In Order to Understand this Verse, We Need to Know What the Author Means By “Perfection”

This Specific Word is Only Found 2 Times in the NT

It Seems to Carry the Idea of Fulfillment/Completion/Desired End

The Author Says:

“If the Desired End was Fulfilled through the Levitical Priesthood…”

“Why Would We Need Another Priest Outside of That Priesthood?”

The Levitical Priesthood Could Not Fulfill the Desired End for God’s People

But What is the Desired End?

The Desired End is What God Created in the Beginning But was Lost Due to Sin:

A Close, Personal, Intimate Relationship with Him for All Eternity

If the Levitical Priesthood Could Provide that…

There Would Be No Need for Another Priesthood to Arise

Hebrews 7:11 (NASB95)

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

The People Received the Law Through the Levitical Priesthood

The Levitical Priesthood and the Law Go Hand in Hand

You Can’t Have One Without the Other

The 2 are Inseparable

That is Further Explained in the Next Verse

Hebrews 7:12 (NASB95)

For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

We’ve Been Told Multiple Times at this Point that the Psalmist Spoke of Another Priesthood

In Psalm 110:4, God Promised to Make His Anointed One a Priest Forever After Melchizedek’s Order

This Foretold that God Would Eventually Set Up a New Priesthood After an Order that is Different Than the Levitical One

And if the Priesthood is Changed, the Law Will Be Changed as Well

Because the Levitical Priesthood and the Law of Moses Were Inseparably Intertwined

Hebrews 7:13–14 (NASB95)

For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

Only Descendants of Levi Can Be Priests Under the Old Law

Moses Said Nothing About Descendants of Judah Being Priests

But that is Exactly the Tribe Jesus was Born Into

So Under the Old Law, He Isn’t Allowed to Be a Priest

So How Can the High Priesthood Change From Aaron to Jesus?

It Can Only Happen By a Change in the Law

Hebrews 7:15–16 (NASB95)

And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

The Author Has Been Saying that Jesus is Our High Priest After the “Order” of Melchizedek

But Here He Changes the Word to “Likeness”/Similarity

Jesus is a Priest Similar to Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:15–16 (NASB95)

And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

Jesus is a Priest Similar to Melchizedek in 2 Specific Ways

He Isn’t a Priest Based Upon a Law of Fleshly Commandment…

(The Law that Stated Only Those of Levitical Lineage Can Be Priests)

Neither was Melchizedek

Jesus is Our Priest Based Upon the Power of an Endless Life

Symbolically, Melchizedek Had an Endless Life and Priesthood

But Jesus Literally Has an Endless Life and Priesthood

Hebrews 7:17 (NASB95)

For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

The Psalmist Told Us that this Priest Would Be Priest “Forever”

The Levitical Priests Were Mortal Men, But this Priest Will Be Immortal (Heb. 7:8)

If We are to Be Looking for a Priest After the Order and Likeness of Melchizedek…

Jesus is the Only Candidate to Choose From

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

On the One Hand and On the Other Hand was a Common Greek Way of Comparing 2 Things

When this Way of Comparison is Used…

The Emphasis is Always On “the Other Hand”

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

“Setting Aside” = To Cancel/Annul Something

The Old Law (Specifically the Law of the Levitical Priesthood) was Cancelled/Annulled

Why?

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

In What Way was the Law Weak and Useless?

Because, as We Saw in Verse 11, it was Incapable of Bringing About the Desired End

The Old Law and Levitical Priesthood Were Not Capable of…

Reconciling Humans Back to a Close, Intimate, Everlasting Relationship with God

The Old Law and Priesthood Were On the One Hand…

Now Let’s See What’s On the Other

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

The New High Priesthood Brings a Better Hope

What is the Better Hope?

It’s Already Been Referred to in Hebrews 6:19-20

Hebrews 6:19–20 (NASB95)

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Better Hope We Have Under Jesus’ High Priesthood…

Is the Hope of Having a Forerunner Who Has Entered into God’s Heavenly Presence…

To Provide Us a Way into His Presence as Well

The Levitical High Priest Would Enter Behind the Veil of the Tabernacle/Temple…

But He Could Only Do that Once a Year…

And Only He was Ever Allowed to Enter

The Desired End is that We All Get to Once Again Live in God’s Holy Presence

Only Jesus’ High Priesthood Makes This a Reality

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Because We Have this Hope of a Forerunner in God’s Presence for Us…

We are Able to Draw Near to God

That was Impossible Under the Old System

But Under High Priest Jesus, it is Possible

To Go Along with this Thought is Hebrews 7:25, Which We’ll Study Next Week

Hebrews 7:25 (NASB95)

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

He Have Hope with Jesus as Our High Priest…

Because He Intercedes for Us